Affable, balding Canadian import Enrico Colantoni was best known for his role as fashion photographer Elliott DiMauro on the popular NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me (1997-2003), and for playing Keith Mars, on Veronica Mars (2004-present). He studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Yale School of Drama, and won much acclaim at both of the schools. Tico appeared on stage in numerous nationwide productions including Shakespeare's Hamlet (1992-1993 at the Yale Rep) The Merry Wives of Windsor (1994 for the New York Shakespeare Festival) and Macbeth (onstage in Los Angeles, 1999). Colantoni first made his mark on television reenacting the death of comedic actor John Belushi on the syndicated tabloid series A Current Affair and went on to star in an episode of Friday the 13th (Syndicated, 1987). He returned to the small screen in 1994 with featured guest roles in the crime dramas Law & Order, New York Undercover and NYPD Blue honing his drama skills and becoming more well known with each guest spot. In 1995 Enrico made his television series regular debut and sitcom debut, landing the role of lovable lunkhead Louis Utz on the charming but short-lived sitcom Hope & Gloria. 1995 was also the year Colantoni first appeared on the big screen, making his feature acting debut with a small part in the actioner Money Train. He followed up with supporting roles in the TV-movies The Member of the Wedding and Cloned and parts in the Kevin Spacey-directed thriller Albino Alligator and the Canadian comedy The Wrong Guy. Colantoni was next cast as Elliott on Just Shoot Me, helping to form the series' winning ensemble with his skilled portrayal of the at once cocky and vulnerable photographer popular with the ladies and prone to affectionate jabs at former model and co-worker Nina Van Horne (Wendie Malick).

Now that he is a more familiar face to audiences, the man whose parents wanted him to be a priest rather than an actor got to play a man of the cloth onscreen with a decidedly dastardly turn as the ethically-challenged Father Dario in the controversial thriller Stigmata. The following year he was uniquely appealing as the leader of a group of aliens under attack who seek the wisdom of the cast of a sci-fi TV series in order to solve their all-too-real problems in the delightful comedy Galaxy Quest. The actor was next featured in Steven Spielberg's highly-anticipated feature A.I. Artificial Intelligence and played Elia Kazan in the TNT biopic James Dean.

When his movie slate began to interfere with his series schedule, Colantoni took temporary leave from Just Shoot Me and emerged as something of a big screen star with featured roles in Steven Soderbergh's Full Frontal, and Mick Jackson's The First $20 Million is Always the Hardest and the comedies The Big Idea and Frank McKlusky, C.I.. Just Shoot Me ended its run after seven seasons.